FunnyGuy

Avalia

Eros

Eros Amaris ⋆ 76 ⋆ Male ⋆ Monkey Demihuman

---

Appearance

Height:

5'11

Build:

Athletic, lean muscle tone

Hair Color:

Blonde

Hair Length

Medium-short

Eye Color:

Amber

Skin Tone:

Slightly tanned

Distinguishing features:

The coloration of his eyes can change with his mood and when he is channeling his mana. His hairs become bristled when frightened, shocked, or angered. Opposable toes.

---

Psychology

Likes:

⋆ All manner of fruit. He enjoys them so much that it's rare to find one he hasn't tried
⋆ The sound of nature.
⋆ Being crafty even when it comes to simple machinations.
⋆ Climbing things "for a better view"
⋆ To get his hands on things he finds peculiar or interesting. Simply looking is never enough
⋆ Combat

Dislikes:

⋆ Too much order. He hates having too many rules placed upon him
⋆ King Zanithel's Conquest
⋆ Bustling cities
⋆ Singular methods
⋆ The monks of North Pass

Fears:

⋆ Taking on his responsibilities with the North Pass monks.
⋆ Not finding a new purpose in life

Habits/Quirks

⋆ Talks in his sleep
⋆ Almost always cheers when having success
⋆ Uses rhymes to remember certain details

Sexuality:

Hetero

Personality:

⋆ Eros is more so introverted, preferring the company of himself and at most, a small group. He'd rather be amongst critters and animals than crowds of people. However, people have the propensity to grow on him after some time of him getting used to them.

⋆ Eros is quite selfish when it comes to his belongings but is willing to help others if they are in need. They just can't use or take his things. He would rather give someone something of their own, even if it takes more time and effort.

⋆ Eros treats people based on how he perceives them. If he feels or thinks someone is polite and innocent, then he'll treat them nicely. On the other hand, he finds it quite easy to be mean to someone he thinks deserves his ire. He often has prejudice towards certain races that feed into this such as light elves being regal yet snooty and orcs being simple-minded brutes.

⋆ Eros will touch anything he's never touched before as long as he believes it won't do him serious harm. He often gives firm pokes to people to grab their attention rather than calling their name to address them. At the same time he also doesn't mind others touching him but even he has his limits.

⋆ Eros' trust is usually predetermined by his prejudices. If you dress like a rogue, he likely assumes you'll steal from him. If you're a friendly-looking fairy, he likely believes you're a nice non-combative hippie. One must prove his prejudices and stereotypes wrong as an individual to get him to consider thinking otherwise.

⋆ Eros is difficult to anger but once he pops his lid, it's a sight one won't forget since he will throw a full-on tantrum.

⋆ Eros is frighteningly patient, having the ability to wait a problem out if it takes hours or up to an entire day. His stubborn nature plays very well into this.

⋆ He's far from cowardly and will show courage in the face of adversity. This can make him reckless as it can take a bit of convincing for him to identify that he needs to pack up and run.

⋆ He gets nervous for others more than himself. He's aware of his strengths and weaknesses. With others, he can sometimes doubt their capabilities if he hasn't seen them with his own eyes.

⋆ He's quite fast at reacting to situations. Does he always make the right decisions in those moments is a better question.

⋆ Eros is crafty but is not a genius. He feels before he thinks and can be wrong about people's natures. He also doesn't make very thought out plans, with most having vague steps or instructions.

⋆ He isn't one to scheme but he does have the propensity to make others around him feel safer. He builds trust through deeds rather than words.

⋆ Upon first impression, one might assume Eros doesn't have a funny bone in his body, but he loves hearing jokes from others and finds it hard to hold a laugh in. His own jokes however, are quite poor.

⋆ Eros doesn't often share information concerning his time living amongst the monks in North Pass. He seems to hold ill feelings toward them yet he continues to practice some of their teachings daily.

---

Background

Occupation

Fisherman, Hermit

Living Immediate Family Members:

Nier Amaris (Father)
Reia Amaris (Mother)

Dead Immediate Family Members:

Yanmar Amaris (Grandfather)

Current Companions:

Beebee the frogfly

Current Equipment: Backpack, fishing net, fishing pole, 3 medium red potions, 3 small blue potions, 1 green potion, fire starting kit, poncho, rope, frogfly named “Beebee,” cooking pot, hygiene pouch, water purifier, wooden spear, hand crafted bow and arrows, knife.

History: Eros was born in the beautiful cold island of North Pass to two agents of Blizzard. Blizzard was the policing force for the island with close ties to the well-respected monks who reside in the mountains overseeing the goings of the island settlement. Eros' parents and grandparents happened to be affiliated with both, understanding the duty of protecting North Pass and ensuring peace remained for its people.

He grew up knowing that one day he would follow in his family's footsteps and like them, be the bridge between the North Pass monks and Blizzard. The young Eros was proud of his heritage and took on the humble teachings of the monks. He had his shortfalls, being quite wild with his temper but was taught the value of patience.

Eros was in his mid twenties when he was told the tale of his late grandfather. His grandfather whom he had been handpicked to provide support to the Roshmi Kingdom when the Malthemoor army made landfall. It was unfortunate that he did not return from the conflict but was revered hero amongst the settlers of North Pass. The revelation meant to imbue pride in the young Eros only filled the young man's heart with despondence. He had many questions for the monks and Blizzard as they seemed to have simply bent the knee to King Zanithel but he was instructed by his father to pursue peace in the face of mercy. He was warned that vengeance poisoned one's spirit. So for many years, he remained bitterly silent but as he grew into maturity, Eros found that his strong opinions occasionally flung from his tongue toward his superiors. He couldn't ignore the fact that Roshmi and its lesser territories had given up so easily. How his father could seemingly forget what his grandfather was sent forth to fight for.

It was during the Riverbloom rebellion when Eros found himself unable to hold his tongue any longer again. Patience had reached its limit. He thought the monks and Blizzard could be doing something to make a difference. That they could rebel themselves or place their support to a group that would. His words fell on deaf ears. His thoughts and ideas viewed as paths toward unnecessary violence. A call to war that no one else desired. Again, Eros' bitterness grew. No longer did he wish to be like those who settled for inaction. If he was to do nothing, then he couldn't see himself holding a title that was meant to foster wisdom and protection of others. It was about a decade ago when he left North Pass, unwilling to face his father and the monks in his decision.

Purchasing a small fishing boat, Eros traveled as far as it would take him, and that happened to be Roshmi of all places. He had initially planned to reside there but found the city unpleasant. There were far too many people and so much of the city reminded him of how the citizens of what was once a kingdom were the first to surrender in the great war. So he decided to place himself in the wilds north of the massive city, where he could live out the next ten years as a foraging hermit. There were no dark elves, no rules, and no contadictuon to his way of living.

---

Combat and Magic Stat Creation

Fitness Level:
⋆ Very active since he lives in the wilderness while loosely practicing his martial arts.
⋆ Received formal combat training from the North Pass monks and his parents.

What are your character’s physical strengths?
⋆ Raw strength
⋆ Acrobatics
⋆ Athleticism

What are your character’s physical weaknesses?
⋆ Weak swimmer
⋆ Mana use puts strain to his body
⋆ Requires lots of food.

Years of Experience:
Weapon(s):
⋆ Staff - 50 years (but no formal training in the last decade)
⋆ Sword - 45 years (but no formal training in the last decade)
⋆ Bow 65 years of experience

Hand-to-Hand Combat: 50 years of experience. A decade out of practice.

---

]Magical Abilities:

Species of Demi-Human

Monkey

Abilities from Beast Side:

Keen senses, quick reflexes, flexibility, enhanced physical condition, masterful dexterity, and Mana Channeling

Besides the abilities granted by his demihuman heritage, Eros possesses the uncanny ability to willfully channel mana and draw it out in a raw tangible form. He can use the mana channeling to multiply his combat prowess twofold, infuse mana into his strikes, and even heal minor wounds. His mana reserves are quite low, requiring him to drink a blue potion to jumpstart this ability. After using this ability, Eros experiences fatigue and needs to get adequate rest before he can use it again. He can push himself into using this ability twice in a row but it will result in him losing consciousness altogether. With more training, he may be able to condition himself to the strain, project his mana at a higher output, increase his own mana reserves, and even disrupt the mana flow of others with well-placed strikes.

Eros is currently out of practice with using this ability, only leaning on it as a last result. When using this ability, Ero's fur shimmers and his eyes become silver in color.

Avalia

Eros

Eros Amaris ⋆ 76 ⋆ Male ⋆ Monkey Demihuman

---

Appearance

Height:

5'11

Build:

Athletic, lean muscle tone

Hair Color:

Blonde

Hair Length

Medium-short

Eye Color:

Amber

Skin Tone:

Slightly tanned

Distinguishing features:

The coloration of his eyes can change with his mood and when he is channeling his mana. His hairs become bristled when frightened, shocked, or angered. Opposable toes.

---

Psychology

Likes:

⋆ All manner of fruit. He enjoys them so much that it's rare to find one he hasn't tried
⋆ The sound of nature.
⋆ Being crafty even when it comes to simple machinations.
⋆ Climbing things "for a better view"
⋆ To get his hands on things he finds peculiar or interesting. Simply looking is never enough
⋆ Combat

Dislikes:

⋆ Too much order. He hates having too many rules placed upon him
⋆ King Zanithel's Conquest
⋆ Bustling cities
⋆ Singular methods
⋆ The monks of North Pass

Fears:

⋆ Taking on his responsibilities with the North Pass monks.
⋆ Not finding a new purpose in life

Habits/Quirks

⋆ Talks in his sleep
⋆ Almost always cheers when having success
⋆ Uses rhymes to remember certain details

Sexuality:

Hetero

Personality:

⋆ Eros is more so introverted, preferring the company of himself and at most, a small group. He'd rather be amongst critters and animals than crowds of people. However, people have the propensity to grow on him after some time of him getting used to them.

⋆ Eros is quite selfish when it comes to his belongings but is willing to help others if they are in need. They just can't use or take his things. He would rather give someone something of their own, even if it takes more time and effort.

⋆ Eros treats people based on how he perceives them. If he feels or thinks someone is polite and innocent, then he'll treat them nicely. On the other hand, he finds it quite easy to be mean to someone he thinks deserves his ire. He often has prejudice towards certain races that feed into this such as light elves being regal yet snooty and orcs being simple-minded brutes.

⋆ Eros will touch anything he's never touched before as long as he believes it won't do him serious harm. He often gives firm pokes to people to grab their attention rather than calling their name to address them. At the same time he also doesn't mind others touching him but even he has his limits.

⋆ Eros' trust is usually predetermined by his prejudices. If you dress like a rogue, he likely assumes you'll steal from him. If you're a friendly-looking fairy, he likely believes you're a nice non-combative hippie. One must prove his prejudices and stereotypes wrong as an individual to get him to consider thinking otherwise.

⋆ Eros is difficult to anger but once he pops his lid, it's a sight one won't forget since he will throw a full-on tantrum.

⋆ Eros is frighteningly patient, having the ability to wait a problem out if it takes hours or up to an entire day. His stubborn nature plays very well into this.

⋆ He's far from cowardly and will show courage in the face of adversity. This can make him reckless as it can take a bit of convincing for him to identify that he needs to pack up and run.

⋆ He gets nervous for others more than himself. He's aware of his strengths and weaknesses. With others, he can sometimes doubt their capabilities if he hasn't seen them with his own eyes.

⋆ He's quite fast at reacting to situations. Does he always make the right decisions in those moments is a better question.

⋆ Eros is crafty but is not a genius. He feels before he thinks and can be wrong about people's natures. He also doesn't make very thought out plans, with most having vague steps or instructions.

⋆ He isn't one to scheme but he does have the propensity to make others around him feel safer. He builds trust through deeds rather than words.

⋆ Upon first impression, one might assume Eros doesn't have a funny bone in his body, but he loves hearing jokes from others and finds it hard to hold a laugh in. His own jokes however, are quite poor.

⋆ Eros doesn't often share information concerning his time living amongst the monks in North Pass. He seems to hold ill feelings toward them yet he continues to practice some of their teachings daily.

---

Background

Occupation

Fisherman, Hermit

Living Immediate Family Members:

Nier Amaris (Father)
Reia Amaris (Mother)

Dead Immediate Family Members:

Yanmar Amaris (Grandfather)

Current Companions:

Beebee the frogfly

Current Equipment: Backpack, fishing net, fishing pole, 3 medium red potions, 3 small blue potions, 1 green potion, fire starting kit, poncho, rope, frogfly named “Beebee,” cooking pot, hygiene pouch, water purifier, wooden spear, hand crafted bow and arrows, knife.

History: Eros was born in the beautiful cold island of North Pass to two agents of Blizzard. Blizzard was the policing force for the island with close ties to the well-respected monks who reside in the mountains overseeing the goings of the island settlement. Eros' parents and grandparents happened to be affiliated with both, understanding the duty of protecting North Pass and ensuring peace remained for its people.

He grew up knowing that one day he would follow in his family's footsteps and like them, be the bridge between the North Pass monks and Blizzard. The young Eros was proud of his heritage and took on the humble teachings of the monks. He had his shortfalls, being quite wild with his temper but was taught the value of patience.

Eros was in his mid twenties when he was told the tale of his late grandfather. His grandfather whom he had been handpicked to provide support to the Roshmi Kingdom when the Malthemoor army made landfall. It was unfortunate that he did not return from the conflict but was revered hero amongst the settlers of North Pass. The revelation meant to imbue pride in the young Eros only filled the young man's heart with despondence. He had many questions for the monks and Blizzard as they seemed to have simply bent the knee to King Zanithel but he was instructed by his father to pursue peace in the face of mercy. He was warned that vengeance poisoned one's spirit. So for many years, he remained bitterly silent but as he grew into maturity, Eros found that his strong opinions occasionally flung from his tongue toward his superiors. He couldn't ignore the fact that Roshmi and its lesser territories had given up so easily. How his father could seemingly forget what his grandfather was sent forth to fight for.

It was during the Riverbloom rebellion when Eros found himself unable to hold his tongue any longer again. Patience had reached its limit. He thought the monks and Blizzard could be doing something to make a difference. That they could rebel themselves or place their support to a group that would. His words fell on deaf ears. His thoughts and ideas viewed as paths toward unnecessary violence. A call to war that no one else desired. Again, Eros' bitterness grew. No longer did he wish to be like those who settled for inaction. If he was to do nothing, then he couldn't see himself holding a title that was meant to foster wisdom and protection of others. It was about a decade ago when he left North Pass, unwilling to face his father and the monks in his decision.

Purchasing a small fishing boat, Eros traveled as far as it would take him, and that happened to be Roshmi of all places. He had initially planned to reside there but found the city unpleasant. There were far too many people and so much of the city reminded him of how the citizens of what was once a kingdom were the first to surrender in the great war. So he decided to place himself in the wilds north of the massive city, where he could live out the next ten years as a foraging hermit. There were no dark elves, no rules, and no contadictuon to his way of living.

---

Combat and Magic Stat Creation

Fitness Level:
⋆ Very active since he lives in the wilderness while loosely practicing his martial arts.
⋆ Received formal combat training from the North Pass monks and his parents.

What are your character’s physical strengths?
⋆ Raw strength
⋆ Acrobatics
⋆ Athleticism

What are your character’s physical weaknesses?
⋆ Weak swimmer
⋆ Mana use puts strain to his body
⋆ Requires lots of food.

Years of Experience:
Weapon(s):
⋆ Staff - 50 years (but no formal training in the last decade)
⋆ Sword - 45 years (but no formal training in the last decade)
⋆ Bow 65 years of experience

Hand-to-Hand Combat: 50 years of experience. A decade out of practice.

---

]Magical Abilities:

Species of Demi-Human

Monkey

Abilities from Beast Side:

Keen senses, quick reflexes, flexibility, enhanced physical condition, masterful dexterity, and Mana Channeling

Besides the abilities granted by his demihuman heritage, Eros possesses the uncanny ability to willfully channel mana and draw it out in a raw tangible form. He can use the mana channeling to multiply his combat prowess twofold, infuse mana into his strikes, and even heal minor wounds. His mana reserves are quite low, requiring him to drink a blue potion to jumpstart this ability. After using this ability, Eros experiences fatigue and needs to get adequate rest before he can use it again. He can push himself into using this ability twice in a row but it will result in him losing consciousness altogether. With more training, he may be able to condition himself to the strain, project his mana at a higher output, increase his own mana reserves, and even disrupt the mana flow of others with well-placed strikes.

Eros is currently out of practice with using this ability, only leaning on it as a last result. When using this ability, Ero's fur shimmers and his eyes become silver in color.

Avalia

Time: Late Morning
Location: The Nest, Roshmi City
Interaction: @princess Mari, @Alivefalling Aerilyn, [@Apex Sunset] Scathael, [@Shining Sector] FIVE

---

The scene of calculated chaos unfolded in the bar. Splinters flew, tables shattered, and now some nasty yellow gas was filling the immediate area around the dreadnaught of Warforged. What was meant to be a rest stop was now a battleground.

Thraash couldn't believe his downswing against the sword was simply outmaneuvered to allow Five to perform a follow-up swing toward Mari who was charging up a light magic attack.

What really took the dragonborn by surprise was Aerilyn springing forth to swing her magically enchanted hammer at the warforged. Thraash had awaited the impact while inhaling through his nostrils.

Deeper… Deeper… Deeper… He could feel the warmth and pressure build in his chest. Even seeing the yellow-colored gas escape the machine of a man, didn't deter what he planned to do. He wasn't sure how effective the full brunt of his flames would be. He didn't know if the gas was flammable. Fuck he didn't know why this was even happening. But by the gods, he knew he was going to release a cone of fire that would make his pops proud.

“RAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!” Thraash breathed at Five. He was aiming for his face but with the size of the cone, the flames would engulf his upper torso too…Oh, and hit a few of the chairs behind him… and some of the tables… and singe some of the hairs on Aerilyn… and there was also that deaf bovine demihuman regular that was minding his own business… And… I think you get it.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: Late Morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Interaction: @Tpartywithzombi Ariella, @Potter Layla, Olivia @Conscripts John, @PapaOso Cassius @Tae Kalliope @Lava Alckon Farim, @ReusableSword Roman, @Apex Sunburn Sjan-dehk, @princess Charlotte

While sipping the smoothie, Lorenzo couldn't help but turn around sharply to the sound of a howling shriek coming from behind him. He braced himself for combat in reaction to what he thought was a battle cry but all he witnessed was someone falling to the ground amid the group forming around his blanket.

Ariella, with her keen eyes, was able to explain more than what he could see. The strange peasant girl… She fell asleep again? Lorenzo recalled the events at the play when he protected her from Dr. Williamson's uncharacteristic assault… And there he was again, far from Lorenzo's reach and amongst the others who had no idea of his strange proclivity.

“Not thankfully. He beat that same woman while she slept during the very play you mentioned.” Lorenzo balled his free hand as he watched the scene from a distance. Layla and some other woman looked to be getting close while the other men appeared to be ogling Layla. Probably complimenting her great figure. She is quite the woman. Puts the dash in Alidasht, I do admit.. Unfortunately, he couldn't hear anything anyone was actually saying.

Charlotte and Olivia seemed to be addressing the fallen young woman while their focus regularly bounced back to Layla. Charlotte, not you too! The duke continued to watch as one man pulled the woman who was the most interested in Layla away. He must be trying to keep her from saying something too charged.

But then John caught his eye once more. Lorenzo could see him! See him inching his way closer to Layla. And then he raised his hand! Lorenzo's eyes bulged as he propped up on a knee. His face was serious but Ariella was still conversing with him.

“Lady Ariella. I believe you and anyone who visits my region will love it.” His voice was pleasant but his face remained serious. Lorenzo's eyes were fixed on John. “And yes, tulips are my favorite for that very reason. They always bounce back… unless you crush them but other than that, they always find a way to make a comeback. To thrive after adversity.”

Lorenzo fell silent for a moment as he listened to Ariella while coming up with a plan to prevent an assault that could very well start a violent war. A doctor slapping a princess on a beach with so many witnesses would be water left under the bridge. Lorenzo couldn't clearly see his face but he could tell John's eyes held an unsettling darkness, as if his demonic urge to slap Layla manifested into his very expression. One? Two? Maybe three slaps… It was difficult to determine. Lorenzo had to do something!

“I'll do you one better, Ariella.” He stood up and finally looked at her, faking a delightful expression. “I'll tell you about your mother and I… on the way to my garden. I can show you my lavender. I'll even let you pick it or pot some if you'd like. I just need to get my things at the blanket, and I'll be back shortly. A Duke's promise.” He nodded.

Once she gave him her agreement, Lorenzo took off with a brisk walk, kicking sand up as he increased his pace. With the flatulence subsided, Lorenzo felt boundless in his stride. However, the duke wouldn't run, as he was wary of John enacting his assault preemptively to avoid being deterred. However, he didn't take into account the obviousness of his speedy power walking. Pumping his arms harder and faster, Lorenzo made it onto the scene and placed himself between John and Layla, his hands outstretched protectively, the shaken-up smoothie still in one of his hands.

“Not another word. This stops now.” Lorenzo's face was flushed but undoubtedly serious in his attempt to save as many lives as he could. Lorenzo needed to show tact. He couldn't just reveal John to be the woman-beater he believed he was. Not when he seemed to be able to do it without any persecution. The doctor must have had more power than anyone could expect or perceive. The darkness the duke had seen was now clearly sunglasses, likely a tool to disguise the killer's intent in his eyes. “Doctor Williamson, I think you've said quite enough. Shezhadi Layla appears more refreshing than this strawberry smoothie tastes but no need to ogle her beneath your sunglasses.” Lorenzo put on a confident smirk before turning around to face Layla, his arms still outstretched.

Plap.

“Your majesty- BY THE GODS! NO!” Lorenzo cried as the back of his hand had accidentally made contact with Layla's chin. Lorenzo was shaking with disbelief as he glanced at John. He… Him! How could this happen?! Lorenzo panicked, falling to his knees as he hugged Layla's legs and he got ready to grovel. “I didn't mean to do that! I-I was trying to prevent this! To protect you! Please forgive and forget what I've done! Please Layla please!” He begged, clenching tighter to her.

Avalia

Time: Late Morning
Location: The Nest, Roshmi City
Interaction: @princess Mari, @Alivefalling Aerilyn, @Apex Sunburn Scathael, [@Shining Sector] FIVE

---

Get a new bounty I tell her. The bitch is piss drunk I tell her…

“Fuck,” Thraash cursed as he picked himself off the ground by using Mari's head to push himself up for good measure. His glowing yellow eyes glared at Aerilyn, the strange, drunk… and unbelievably tall rabbit demihuman. Where once was a table of pitchers in front of her now was shattered wood and glass scattered across the floor. Though Aerilyn had seemed to pull a 180 in terms of demeanor, Thraash wasn't going to stop being pissed off about knocking onto the floor. Not only did it cause injury to his reputation but who the hell reacts like that?!

“Lookin' for somthin'? No. I think I found what I'm itchin' for.” Thraash unslung his axe from his back, gripping it in both hands as he bared his teeth at her. To the patrons watching, Thraash and Aerilyn were having quite the odd state down with the stark differences in their demeanors. Even Thraash was starting to find it strange as she kept up her bubbly appearance. He didn't like beating the hell out of drunks but he'd make an exception. “Stop fuckin' smilin' and- The fuck is that?” A loud crash from behind the establishment stole his attention away from the rabbit. He turned around, his tail swinging against Mari for another good measure.

“What the hell is that?!” Floopa yelled as she moved away from the end of the bar closest to the approaching thuds. Thraash could hear a low droning sound that he could help but think would be a perfect addition for his Muse Box clipped to the waistband of his pants. He would have given the idea more thought if shit wasn't hitting the fan at the moment. He took a deep breath just before the hulking red-eyed metallic being burst through slightly shrouded in smoke with a greatsword spinning like a heavy-duty drill!

That's fuckin' solid…

Not wanting to be too stunned by Five's epic entrance, Thraash spat a small burst of flame. He knew it wouldn't stop the warforged but figured it would provide some level of disorientation. With that, Thraash would attempt to dodge to the right of the spearing sword. His body would knock a table or two over but he'd be ready and in position to swing down on Five's sword to hopefully open him up for Mari to deliver a counterattack. If she fuckin' does it!

Avalia

Time: Morning
Location: Roshmi!
Interaction:Brigitte @Tae, Bardulf @Lava Alckon, Rue @Potter, Bowyn @Helo, Zeva @Pink Khione, Brigitte @Tae (optional)
Mention: A strange What If scenario.
Equipment:Fancy Ring, Cold Ring, Oak Wood Staff!, Brown Leather Fingerless Channeling Gloves (not worn), Transmission Bracelet, 560 Amas. Oh! And Owlbear loot that he hasn't shared

---

“My main concern is that Zeva will turn us all over to the dark elves if given the chance, and I do not trust Luum to do everything in his power to prevent that.”

“And I also wonder how much we can trust a man who cannot even locate his staff to keep proper eyes on Bardulf.”

“You can trust me plenty. A staff is replaceable after all.” Mister Luum had commented with a beaming grin. There was mention of Bardulf being responsible for killing Zeva if he wound up in their declared group. He's giving the job to the wrong guy. Bardulf wouldn't dare do such a horrendous thing. He thought he was sure Bardulf might likely find such a request distasteful on his own. It would make it all the more easier to rope the human in and leave the fairies to themselves. Besides it would do Brigitte good to socialize with someone other than himself.

The young demi-human woman was looking from face to face as everyone spoke, remaining silent as Mister Luum preferred. She couldn't help but wince every few moments as her sharp sense took in the surroundings of the city. So many people and things coming and going in one space was quite overwhelming. Despite this, she listened in on the conversation at hand. Mister Luum wanting to leave her with Bowyn and Rue wasn't what she might have preferred but she wouldn't argue. She enjoyed the two fairies so far, especially Rue since she was the sweetest of the group… and happened to be another woman.

“I don' mind tha groups if ye ask me.” Brigitte commented to which Mister Luum shrugged with his hands up as if her words finalized the decision.

They would have headed straight for the pointed-out bakery but Bowyn's stoat popped out of Zeva's bag and created a bit of a scene between her and Bowyn. More points for the Luumster. Or maybe simply minus points for the winter fae.

“Yes, let us go forth to the bakery to indulge in honeyed toast and the like!” He declared with excitement while pointing at their destination that Zeva was already marching to. “Brigitte!”

“Yes, Mister Luum.” She answered as she hurried to his side while the others went forth.

“The amas and our owlbear treasure is in the bag. If we split up, you and I, make sure to sell the stuff we don't need and buy me a new staff.”

“Aye, a wooden staff?”

“Of course. I'm cheap! Now let's go catch the others.” The two followed behind the group to the bakery that sold Honeyed Toast for 1 ama a slice! What a steal!

Bakery Items and Prices

1 ama per slice

Honeyed Toast

4 amas per order

Blas Buns
Fallaid Bread
Luckie Dips
Bannoch Biscuits
Toffee Apples
Cinnamon Hot Bread
Alaberry Custard
Alaberry Roll
Cacao and Peanut Butter Cake
Riverfruit Jelly Rounds (3)
Sandwich Breads
Moon Breads (Crescents)
Peanut Butter Buns
The Long Loaf
Pecan Fleefa Cookies
Cacao Cookies (2)

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: Late Morning
Location: Sorian Beach
Interaction: @Tpartywithzombi Ariella

Lorenzo didn't know it, but he had been furrowing his brows slightly after his thoughts on what should happen to Sorian, but still, he listened to Ariella. She had shared what happened after she departed from the dinner two days ago and could empathize with her to a degree. Embarrassment might as well have been married to him at this point. Duchess Embarrassia a woman that rarely left his side.

Then came the spree of questions about Veirmont which Lorenzo was more than happy to answer. Just talking about it could briefly take him from where he was physically. Perhaps he'd take the train back for an “emergency” only to never return.

“No balls but we do have festivals. Much more fun when everyone can take part. There are so many as well!” He beamed. “Charlotte actually wants to play an old game that's a theme to one of the festivals. The Mermaid Festival. The women dress up as beautiful mermaids while the men dress as ambitious sailors. There's a seashell-collecting contest. A parade! A fishing tournament! There's even- Hm?” Lorenzo turned around upon hearing a bit of commotion behind him toward his blanket. It was hard to make out with so many people, but he could see one of the men shouting at Layla Kadir… The girl that plays with the fashion-setting snake. I still can't get over…. I STILL CAN'T GET OVER THAT BOWTIE! Lorenzo shook his head, not thinking much of what he could see, and decided he would ask what happened later rather than cause any problems he didn't have to.

“Um what was I talking about? Oh, the mermaid festival. It is the best ever. Unfortunately, I think we might miss it this year… And you asked about what I grow? I am willing to grow any kind of flower but tulips are by far my favorite!” He answered before taking a sip of the refreshing smoothie. The taste was delicious enough for him to forget the awful herbal drink Ariella had given him.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: Late Morning
Location: Castle Gardens
Attire: Alexander and Lianna
Interaction: @Tae Mina @Helo Callum
Mention:@Silverpaw Wulfric, @Tpartywithzombi Violet, @Potter Sadie, @Lava Alckon Drake

---

Alexander raised an eyebrow when Callum mentioned that it was Anastasia and not himself that was the life of many parties. He shot a glance toward the Caesonian Princess, the person he had initially considered speaking with. My, how things have turned. With a shrug he replied.

“The liver is still certainly important. It can be the hardest working organ for some of us. Rarely getting recognition until the day it fails.” Despite the slight morbid detail Alexander took the opportunity to grab the flask Mina had passed him. He noticed her brush his hand, and his smile grew ever so slightly. “It's men like us that the others want to doom. The freethinkers. The men that wish to see their country flourish by the sight of all its people, not just the wealthy.” Alexander took a hefty swig from the
flask and handed it back to Callum as he winced slightly from the whiskey's bite.

“Forgive me, I myself am not the most spirited person.” He went along with Mina's wordplay before listening to Callum attempt to buy him into his charity event. He made some fair points, appealing to Alexander's voiced desire of making his name known amongst the people here in Sorian this season. “Hmm…” He raised his eyebrow once more, considering the request before Callum engaged Mina next.

He let their exchange briefly drown out as his eyes landed on Wulfric and the disgusting creature he was speaking to. He couldn't gather much from their expressions. Their conversation was either very mundane or the two were well practiced in masking their- yes. It was exactly that, as Alexander witnessed a break in Violet's composure.

"What do you say, Mr. Deacon? Shall we help make Sorian a better place for everyone?" Mina's question cut in just in time.

“We should, future countess but unfortunately I as an individual cannot put my name behind such an event. I simply lack the title and the funds needed to make your charity event the best it could be.” Alexander sighed as he placed a hand on Callum's shoulder, an apologetic expression spreading across his features. “Every disgruntled liver needs a dependable gallbladder. And that, I cannot be.” Alexander gave Callum's shoulder a slight squeeze as he gave him a mischievous smirk. “However…” He released Callum and cleared his throat.

“Esteemed guests of King Danrose 's Tea Party! I, Alexander Deacon, am proud to announce that the world-renowned Black Rose Trading Company will be the first to back and support Prince Callum's charity event for those in need within Sorian! The Black Rose has distinguished itself as the best of the best in trading, so I will ensure this charity event is nothing but the best!” Alexander announced joyously. His wife couldn't help but smile upon hearing his voice boom over the event.

“This event will be but an example of what the great Danrose royal family has to offer, not just for Sorian but for Caesonia! An example that even the Varian Kingdom can adopt!” he pointed his hand toward Sadie, placing many eyes on her and Drake's table. “To help in this endeavor as I am sure many don't feel comfortable letting go of funds without a return, our company will be hosting a silent auction of surplus items of great value with a large percentage of the proceeds going to the charity! More details on that will be posted in the newspaper in the coming days.” Alexander performed a bow to the attendants before giving Callum a sly wink. “How was that, Prince of Onions?”

Young Justice

Iceburn | Rain

OPERATION SLEET

---

Iceburn smiled as Mirage appeared. Her smile faded when she heard the big roar in the distance.

“Uh oh. That wasn’t..? I told him that-! Whatever.” She shook her head, pushing past her frustration and her incomplete thoughts.

“Iceburn, can you see him to safety and return?” Kassy requested.

Iceburn nodded. "We’ve got this." She said confidently as Kassy departed. "Good luck with that."
—

“Well, I’m happy to hear that, sir.” Iceburn said with a smile and a little laugh at the hardiness of the bystander. Most people don’t handle being shot so well, in her limited experience with it.

“Um,” She was briefly taken aback when he elected to, at that moment, partake in a vape.

“M’kay, that’s fine, I guess. At least it’s not a cigarette. That’d really be throwing my life-saving attempting in my face.” Iceburn joked.

“Metamorph is compromised.” Quiver informed over comms. There were sounds that were similar to the shuffling and feedback of a mic being dropped to the ground, it seemed someone's earpiece was knocked out.

She realized with growing annoyance that a vast majority of their team was being sidetracked by…yup. The message came through: Metamoprh had been compromised.

“Guess it’s just you and me, Rain. Operation Sleet is a go. First things first, I’m getting this guy to safety. Then we gotta reduce casualties in the gang war. Hopefully, our teammate comes to his senses soon.” Iceburn said.

“...Again.”

“Negative. Place him into a different container.” Viktor's voice was tenser than usual, and that was saying something. Again KJ had lost himself, and again Viktor found himself responsible for addressing a completely different objective. To believe it was a one-time occurrence made him feel naive, foolish even.

“Found them. They’re by the water. Quiver’s down. I’m going to lend a hand.” Vincent suddenly announced over comms while a sort of howl could be heard in the background of his transmission.

“Is someone with Quiver? I’m close to the water’s edge but it might take me a bit.” Daphne's voice followed.

Am I losing my sharpness? He gripped his rifle tightly before focusing his mind on what he should be doing rather than what he desired. No. We can do this. He lowered the weapon and half turned toward Pei.

“But if you believe it's not safe enough. I will respect your decision. I'll press forward with or without you, Iceburn. Cybergirl should be able to back me up during your absence.”

“No no no, that’s a good idea, I didn’t think of that!” Iceburn said, taking her powers to the container they were hiding behind. She froze and cracked open the lock. She glanced around inside to see what was in there. Inside was a bunch of boxes, but enough room to fit a dude or two.

“Nothing evil going on in here. Excuse me, sir, I know it’s not exactly ideal,” She opened the door with an apologetic grimace.

“But hey, you won’t get shot again! Don’t worry, I won’t lock you in.” She made a block of ice in the shape of a door stopper and used it to stop the crate from closing all the way.

Once he was safely inside, she returned to Viktor’s side. At this point, she gave a probably noticeable frown towards his rifle. “That’s not a real gun, is it?”

He made a glance at her before walking forward, raising the rifle as they proceeded through the corridor of stacked containers.

“No. It's… safe?” He tried to keep the description simple. Using guns with hollow point bullets may have been his answer to this situation over a year ago but that's not who he was anymore.

“I’m gonna pretend you stated that instead of asked it.” Iceburn said, pushing past her reservations about gun-adjacent weapons for the mission at hand.

A thunderclap echoes across the entire harbor, likely from Cora with the night sky being as clear as it was. The sound pulled their attention toward the sky for brief moment before Viktor made the mental call to maintain focus on Iceburn and himself.

“You'll just have to see it in action.” Viktor replied before he pressed a button on his helmet to speak over comms. “Cybergirl. You, me, and Iceburn are going to take on the gangs. Go after stragglers. That is our objective. The rest of the team has the other situation under control. Over and out.”

There was no sign of a ceasefire ahead of the pair, which meant the situation was still at its worst despite what the others were able to accomplish.

“I'll get their attention. You do what you do best.” He gave a nod before running forward and jumping left onto a parallel container. Running along it he aimed his weapon slightly upwards before using its tube attachment to fire a canister from a that covered two gunmen with a gray foam on impact. In seconds, the foam began to harden over parts of their body. Here we go.

“Cool!” Iceburn shouted out, seeing the true function of the gun. Now they just needed to work on making it less gun shaped… but that could wait!

Iceburn increased her speed by creating a layer of ice beneath her feet, and attached ice skates beneath her shoes. Leaning forward she skated into the open. Opening up her palms, she began to spray a cone of mist and snow shards. She was aiming for upper bodies, trying to strike guns and hands to disable the usage of the dangerous weapons. Then she skated behind cover to prevent her exposure to gunfire herself. Rain was coming from above, and snow was building up from below.

Awesome!
Exceptional...

Viktor found their rhythm quite synchronized as when either of them put attention on themselves, the other took the chance to strike. Perhaps if it was just one gang, the enemies could accomplish the same thing but their cooperation was simply a necessity for survival. Right now the gang members were taking cover against the two young heroes while firing when they could. The shooters were being oddly reserved with their ammunition while others were grabbing whatever they could swing to engage Pei directly.

“I think they're running low!” Viktor called, both to be informative and demoralizing.

“I noticed!” Iceburn said with wide eyes as a six-foot bruiser charged at her with a heavy metal pipe. Can’t freeze the inner mechanisms of that bad boy. She ducked it and was forced to melt her skates lest she lose her balance from the crouch. The swing clanged loudly into the container she was hiding behind, denting it. She blasted the bruiser away with some forcefully generated snow, but he was heavy and sturdy enough to not fall over. Iceburn looked wistfully at the short but infinite distance between her and the ocean. From its cold water, she could draw a huge amount of power.

Another one rushed up to grab her while she was crouched, but she generated a puddle beneath her and fell onto it, rocketing away with some snow power, sliding to take cover behind a big yellow forklift. Iceburn retreated from the bullets, her heart pounding. Thankfully the melee goons were reluctant to charge into the line of fire to chase after her, so she had a moment to think. The gunman that was keeping her suppressed was standing on a container himself, twenty feet in the air. He even had a retractable ladder up there that he had pulled up so no one could follow him.

Frowning, Iceburn froze and snapped off the two prongs on the front of the forklift. She flung them, and they launched like icy missiles. The gunman took cover by crouching low, but they weren’t aimed at him, she knew she’d miss. Instead, they stuck into his containers, creating two ‘stepping stones’ for a particularly athletic person to use. “Perfect.” Viktor commented after he had finished firing a taser round into a gang member running after Pei. Folding the rifle, he holstered onto his back, something he had spent hours practicing.

In a dead sprint, Viktor leaped toward the first prong, using it and his momentum to swing to the other. Executing a precise landing on the second prong, Viktor launched himself up, ascending to the top of the containers while drawing his sword. The gunman turned around to fire but Viktor had already closed the distance. All it took was one precise slash. One precise slash to neutralize his enemy…

“It's over for you,” Viktor said as the upper receiver of his weapon was split in two by the vanadium alloy blade. The gunman stared at his hand only holding the lower receiver and faithfully squeezed the trigger to no effect. With a swift step forward Viktor knocked him out with be hilt of his sword.

Meanwhile, down below Iceburn was having to deal with the goons that were free to assault her now that bullets were no longer flying. Gotta take the good with the bad. Two approached her quickly with a third on the way. She wished it was like the TV shows where the bad guys all took turns attacking, but that wasn’t the case. They were practically falling over themselves to grab her at the same time. Speaking of which- with a mischievous little “Heh” she fired a blast of ice to create a frozen puddle beneath their feet, causing both to eat shit.

“Fuck!” One swore. Before they could get up, Iceburn harshly kicked the top, bigger guy in the ribs. Her technique was basic but she could still generate enough force on a distracted target.

After that she blasted them both with a gust of mist that froze into a blanket of cold ice, locking them in place on the ground. “I think you guys can keep each other warm.” Iceburn said, dusting off her hands and taking a breath.

Hearing a heavy set of footsteps, she whirled around to see a young woman in civilian clothes approaching. She had short black hair and a pair of glasses, and a scowl on her face.

“Don’t worry, ma’am,” Iceburn began. “It’s all under control-” She was cut off as the woman grabbed a nearby crate, cracked into the wood with her fingers, and flung it at Iceburn at high speed.

“Oogh!” Iceburn’s eyes bulged as the box broke against her, scattering packing beads and electronics everywhere- as well as sending the young heroine sprawling. Thankfully the mist that surrounded her in combat also acted as a cushion. That stopped her ribs from cracking but it didn’t stop her from needing a moment to stand, gasping loudly for breath.

“Get up, you idiots.” The woman said, stomping on the ice and freeing the two henchwoman.

“Get off me!” The littler guy on the bottom shouted as the bruiser got to his feet.

“Alright, fuck! Let’s just get the scrawny bitch.” He said, hefting his heavy metal pipe.

THUD!

THUD!

Viktor jumped down from one container to another before dropping down to the ground level adjacent to the three remaining enemies. He sheathed his sword before charging forward and performing a flying kick into the smaller guy's side. The smaller man crashed into the bruiser beside him, leaving them toppled and open for Iceburn's next attack. Viktor kept himself moving, only stopping to square up with the woman who had enhanced strength.

“Tch.” Unlike Iceburn, the meta wasn’t impressed. She stepped forward and did a massive push kick toward Viktor.

Iceburn meanwhile got to her feet, recovering. As the two bad guys tried to recover their balance, Iceburn once again created a puddle beneath their boots causing them to slip and fall. Short of creating ice spikes, which she never did against humans, Iceburn didn’t have much in the way of causing immediate harm to someone. Instead, she grabbed up the heavy metal pipe and froze it, before breaking it over the shoulders of the bigger man. With another swear word, he dropped onto the ice puddle, leaving Iceburn to toss the shattered weapon aside.

She raised her hands towards them. “Give up!” Then she once again sprayed them with mist and ice that froze them to the puddle underneath. Thanks to Viktor she had managed to recapture them. Now they just had to keep that strong lady from freeing them. Or, uh, breaking their bones.

Ahead of her Viktor and the woman were engaged in combat, the woman being a much more adept fighter than the rest of her goons.

“Heh.” Viktor let out as the two found themselves circling each other after a brief exchange of blows.

“Funny?!”

“Mildly. Facing off against women is just becoming quite a pattern.”

The woman taking advantage of Viktor addressing her used her strength to chuck a crate at Viktor to screen her next move of running for her allies. Viktor ducked. “Iceburn!” He alerted as he grabbed and threw his equipped bolas at the legs of the woman in mid-stride.

“Now don’t get up again, or-” She was lecturing the thugs when she glanced up at Viktor’s warning. The crate slammed into Iceburn’s upper body and she was sent ass over teakettle onto the ground.

“Uhhuggh….ohoh, fucking- man…” Iceburn wheezed and pushed herself onto all fours.

She used a nearby box to support her as she got to her feet. “You Donkey Kong-ass bitch…quit throwin’ shit!” She began to move over to assist Viktor as he kept the meta engaged.

As the strong person steadied herself and reached down to rip the bolas right off, Iceburn went with old reliable- she got low herself and made a motion like she was skipping a rock across a pond. With a misty crackle, a puddle appeared beneath her opponent’s boots, and with a grunt, Viktor ran in to throw a powerful haymaker while the meta's hands were still down. His fist connected with her jaw with a brain-rattling punch.

With the ice beneath her boots, the woman went sliding until she crashed into the same types of crates she had been throwing at the duo.

Iceburn created a snowball of ice above her head and like a caveman committing the first murder, chucked it at the woman and the crates. It smacked into her and caused the crates to topple all on top of her until she was basically buried in them.

Iceburn spat onto the ground and sat her hands on her knees, bending over. “Woo….woo hoo! Woo hoo?” She glanced around to see if there was any more danger.

Viktor crouched down next to her, giving her a thumbs up. “You did well. I just hope the others are fairing just the same…” He said as he looked toward the faint sounds of battle in the distance he was able to pick up with his hearing.
Iceburn gave a somewhat breathless thumbs up, standing and setting a hand on Viktor’s shoulder, leaning into him a little bit.

He gave a nod before he stood back up and briefly looked at the broken contents from the crates, taking note.

The sound of tremendous roar sounded across the harbor where Viktor guess the rest of the team was located.

“We should regroup with the oth- Shit. The homeless man. I guess we should… go to him, yes?” He almost fought with his better judgment but following up with the casualty was the right call. And that's exactly what the two did next.

When they walked to the crate, Iceburn knocked first. “Knock knock, sir. It’s me, Iceburn. How you doin’? The coast should be clear-” When she opened it up, her jaw dropped. The man was nowhere to be seen.

Panicking, Iceburn turned her head inside the container like she somehow missed him. She picked up a box inside and lifted it like he might be underneath. “He- he’s gone!?”

There were no signs of a struggle or anything like that, but that didn’t stop Iceburn from freaking out, rushing to Viktor’s side and whirling her upper body around the docks. “Hello?! Sir?! Where are you?!”

“Iceburn, stay calm but vigilant. I don't think he was taken by anyone. No struggle, no blood… and there was no reason for anyone to come looking for him… Something's not right.” Viktor said as looked around the area for any more clues or indicators of a nearby threat.

Iceburn calmed down, still glancing around. “S-sorry, I was just- that woulda been stupid to lose him like that. I wonder where he went off too? And what’s been going on with our teammates?”

“Likewise… Likewise.”

Avalia

Thraash & Mari

Time: Several hours ago. Night.
Location: Middle fort between the cities of Illuminata and Myriamor

---

This night at the fort had been like any other for the dark elf troops manning it. Their job was simple; maintain the fort, inspect passing travelers, and deter dangerous wildlife in the area. The responsibility that weighed on those currently stationed for the time being was soon reaching its end as they waited for their relief to arrive and pass the torch to them until the following evening. A mixture of both complacency and anxiousness filled them in their wait, a normal thing. You know the feeling. When you’re impatiently ready to punch out because the last couple of hours of your shift feel abnormally too long. All you can think about is packing up and the first thing you’ll do once you’ve returned to your living quarters. Maybe it’s rest or indulging in your favorite recreation. Whatever it is, it’s all you can think about as the clock winds down to that final minute. No, that final second! That inevitability!

And it was that inevitability that never arrived.

The relief meant to arrive was absent. Perhaps they were running late. Unusual but not an impossibility. It only took one minute for the first soldier to express his irritation at the relief’s failure to arrive.

“They’re supposed to be here already! Any of you up in the towers see them?” The dark elf captain was gruffly pacing as he awaited news from his archers.

“Sir we don’t see anything from the- Do you hear that?” One of the archers on one of the four towers said to another beside him. He stepped closer to the tower’s edge as he heard none other than what he could only describe as the misplaced riff of a guitar beyond the treeline to the west.

“Y-yeah. They’re… here. It's them! THEY’RE HEEEERE!” His cry caused the dark elves stationed at the fort to position themselves on the western side of the fort, and if they couldn't, they certainly had their attention in that direction.

“Do you have eyes on them?!”

“Still scanning! It's getting too loud to make out where it's coming from!” The captain cursed under his breath before shooting a fierce look at the several men on the ground with him.

“Don't just stand there! FIND THEM!” If the music was coming from who the captain was given intelligence on, he felt that he had more than enough troops to end the reign of these terrorists. There were only two of them!

Five of the dark elves hurried from the fort, exiting through the west entrance, vanishing into the brush of the woods. “They chose the wrong night for an attack! We'll execute them as soon… as we…” His voice trailed off as he watched the forest his men disappeared into suddenly alight in violent flames as the music continued. “What the fuck.”

Pressed against the fort's stone wall, hidden in the shadows, a young elf was unleashing a performance on her invisible air guitar, synchronizing her movements with the pulsating music. She bit her lip as she got lost in it for a moment, banging her head subtly. The elf paused what she was doing as everything suddenly lit up, the dark night, suddenly a brilliant glow that overtook her vision and briefly illuminated her form.

She raised her head, the heat washing over her skin as the once quiet landscape became a blazing hellscape. The flames eagerly consumed the woodland before them, the vibrant display of fiery hues dancing wildly in the breeze as smoke billowed up into the sky. The air distorted in the intense heat and the crackling of the fire seemed to intermingle with the music.

The blonde stood transfixed, her face aglow with both awe and exhilaration. A huge grin was plastered on her face at the sight of the bright scorching inferno before her. She marveled at the intensity of the flames, feeling a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

“Thatta boy…” She uttered under her breath with admiration. Then she opened her palm to reveal a disguise ring. Sliding it onto her finger with practiced ease, she invoked its magic, causing her fair complexion to morph into a shade of purple. Her golden locks underwent a transformative shift, darkening into a raven hue that blended seamlessly with the shadows.

With a smirk, she enjoyed the view for just a moment longer before retreating deeper into the shadows. As she moved along the wall, she found the entry point she had prior knowledge of. With nimble fingers, she manipulated the mechanism, allowing her seamless passage through the unguarded entrance. She then slipped in unnoticed.

And the music and flames raged on in opposition to the fort. The dark elves had advanced, attempting to smother the dancing flames with their power over the darkness. Together they managed to forge a safe path through the flames and…

They were supposed to march forward. They intended to do so yet they stopped at the sight of a slumped charred body wearing the armor of their people. The sight wasn't enough as the subtle smell of oil and burning flesh struck their nostrils as if their sense betrayed them. This is why the relief never arrived.

Still, they couldn't remain unmoving as the gap they created between the towering flames began to shut. With vengeance added to the stakes, the group pushed on to reach their adversary. It was unfortunate to have that chance snatched from them.

Through one of the towering columns of flame, a large clawed hand covered in green scales pulled one of the dark elves into the fire. The elf's hollers did little for his companions, only managing to alert them to the sudden flank with his screams.

Lunging through flames wielding a double-bitted battle ax, a towering skull-faced dragonborn let loose his ferocity. His eyes were glowing amber orbs streaking through the dark as he maneuvered swiftly with every swing before unleashing a breath of flame. “Raaaaaaagh!” And still the music and fire raged.

Meanwhile, the rhythmic click of black boots echoed as the raven-haired elf confidently strode, dressed in a standard uniform. The corridors of this place were like old friends to her now, and she navigated them with ease. As she passed guards, she smiled at them and made passing comments to keep up the charade.

The first was an elven woman with a peculiar hairstyle that looked straight out of the depths of a history textbook. She looked up from her post and raised a brow as the unfamiliar female walking down the hall caught her eye. However, the raven-haired young elf was first to speak, passing her casually. “Love the haircut, Elerra. Really brings me back to two centuries ago.”

She smiled and touched her hair, distracted momentarily.

Not a compliment, Elerra, not a compliment.

“...Belgos, how’s that bitch of a wife of yours? … Still a bitch?”

“Still a bitch.” A long-haired dark elf pressed up against the wall confirmed without looking up as he flipped to a new page of his book.

“...Well you know where to find me if you finally get bored of the cunt.” The intruder winked at Belgos with a cheeky grin, even giving him finger guns as she had finally enticed the male into looking up from his book.

Belgo’s eyes narrowed, taking an extra moment to process. “Wait… What?” All he could do was watch her back as she rounded a corner. As she swung the keys pilfered from the Belgos’ belt out of his view, the cool metal glinted in the dim light, and her mischievous grin widened.

“A left and then a right… Then.” She uttered under her breath until she came to a pause before a staircase. “Then we go down.” Descending the steps in haste, she moved down and came to the door. She had a knack for this sort of thing, and her nimble fingers easily navigated the ring of keys until she found the one that fit the lock of the door. As soon as she opened it, she found an obstruction in her path. Someone’s back had been up against the door.

The figure turned around, revealing himself to be a burly guard, his face twisted in anger as he looked down at her from above, “What are you doing here? No one is supposed to come down here, you should know the rules-”

Before the guard could finish his sentence, the raven-haired elf sprang into action, her instincts taking over. With fast reflexes, she lunged forward, aiming her dagger at the guard's neck. The element of surprise was on her side, catching him off guard as he stumbled back, trying to draw his weapon in response.

"Sorry, big guy."

The guard's eyes widened in shock and fury as he tried to defend himself, but the elf was already one step ahead. She danced around his clumsy attempts to strike back. In a swift and fluid motion, she closed the distance between them, exploiting a momentary opening in his defenses. The blade of her dagger found its mark, sinking into the soft flesh of his neck. The guard gasped in pain and disbelief, clutching at the wound as blood began to flow. She swiftly withdrew the dagger and stepped back to shut the door.

“You know,” she began with a cocky grin, “they say curiosity killed the cat, but in your case, it's more like stupidity got you stabbed."

She turned her gaze to the rows of cells on each side of the room, each housing numerous prisoners. A quick mental count gave her a good estimate of twenty. Most of them were demihumans but she did see some other species mixed in. Their eyes fell on her with apprehension. “So… First time, guys?” She asked. It was no surprise that she didn’t get an answer, but she still shrugged and commented, “Tough crowd.” After a moment, she moved forward and grabbed another key ring from the male bleeding out on the ground, and held them up. She jingled them.

“I’m here to break you out.” She spoke a little slower to make sure it sunk in. There was a collective ooh and she grinned at them as she spotted a few smiles. The relief and joy in the eyes of prisoners was something when they realized they were going to be okay was a sight she’d never get tired of. “There’s those pearly whites!” They were to bide their time for approximately ten minutes before making their escape through the back door.

It wasn’t long before the disguised elf was in the main hall of the fort with a crossbow in hand. Though she had to go outside again to retrieve the weapon, it had been hidden strategically. Taking her position atop a balcony, she observed a group of dark elves engaged in a panicked discussion around a table. While she couldn't catch every word, it was clear that their agitation stemmed from the raging fire attack at their perimeter. A sudden thunderous boom from outside added to their tension, making those gathered either lock up or jump in their respective panic. They were in shambles. So fearful of the threat beyond them and completely oblivious to the threat so close.

With a smirk, she lit a match and then lit the tip of her arrow on fire. “Yooohooo!” she called out, her voice ringing through the room, taunting the dark elves below. Their heads all turned toward her in bewilderment. Without waiting for a response, she released the flaming arrow from her crossbow, and it soared through the air, leaving a trail of bright orange behind it. As the flaming arrow struck the table where the dark elves had been gathered, it landed amidst stacks of papers. They caught on fire immediately, and flames began to dance across the surface. Shouts filled the room and they were quick to move for their weapons.

A dark orb flew at her and she side-stepped. She did not relent even as they made a beeline for the stairs to approach her. Swiftly, she notched another arrow, lighting it. This time, she aimed for the heavy curtains that adorned the walls of the chamber. The flaming arrow soared through the air once more, and upon impact, the curtains caught fire. One after another, she ignited and shot her arrows, targeting anything that could fuel the blaze. Drapes, and even the tapestries hanging from the walls all succumbed to the inferno she unleashed. Some of the room's occupants made the wise decision to abandon the room as smoke began to consume it.

The sound of crackling flames was music to her ears.

“You insolent girl!’ A hand gripped her wrist as someone came up from behind her and ripped the ring off her finger. Her dark ponytail transformed into a golden blonde while her skin shifted into a light tone.

“The name’s Mari actually.” She told him softly before dropping her crossbow. She twisted quickly in their grip, a dagger in hand ready to plunge into his chest. He quickly yanked at her hair, causing her to stumble back just before the blade sunk in. Her hands lit up with orange light essence as well as her eyes as she shot a mellow blast of light at him. However, it was enough to cause him to let go of her and push him back. “You do not touch the hair!”

But Mari's triumph was short-lived as another enemy seized the opportunity to strike. From behind, a firm hand wrapped around her throat, cutting off her air supply as he picked up the woman in the air.

“Enough.”

Another thunderous boom sounded, this one shaking the fort accompanied by the despairing verberation of crumbling stone…

And the music. The screams.

A crying flailing soldier burst through the doors of the main hall with flames licking at both skin and armor. He scurried forward and fell into the large table, spreading flames onto it as an ominous horned shadow stalked his path. Flames jutted through where he had entered ushering in the horned skull-faced ravager riffing on his battle ax.

Mari was up above, gasping for breath as the world around her seemed to blur. The burly guard's grip tightened, and her attempts to break free were futile as he held her up and whipped his attention to the commotion at hand. Upon the sight of the being that had entered the room, he stared for only a moment before letting go of the blonde. Mari hit the floor with a groan as he bolted down the stairs for the door.

She scrambled to her feet and then rammed her body into the railing of the balcony to call down to the horned being,

“Thraash! That was totally WICKED!”

Without hesitation, Mari gripped the railing firmly, and with a swift, graceful movement, she vaulted her body over it. Dropping down on the fronts of her feet, she dispersed the shock from the landing and maintained her composure. Then, waving smoke out of her face, she informed him, “The prisoners should be on their way out.”

The strumming of the weapon came to a halt upon receiving the information. Thraash's grip on the ax adjusted as the dark elf ran in his direction. He raised the weapon high over his head to perform a powerful downward swing the dark elf was prepared for. A quick grunt escaped the dragonborn before he spat flames at his final target, disorienting him before swinging down with all of his draconic might. The ax buried through metal, flesh, and bone before the dark elf's body was kicked into the burning table to join his fellow guardsman.

“Heh… Fucking solid! We should get our tails out of here ourselves.” Thraash turned from Mari and started for where he had entered. “We can watch the fire eat this bitch up from where I left the Muse Box.”

The two menaces of King Zanithel's Avalia strolled out of the burning structure and were met with the sight of spreading flames and two crumbled guard towers caused by black powder explosions.

This middle fort between Illuminata and Myriamor had been razed.

---

Time: Late Morning
Location: The Nest, Roshmi

The Nest, the most dysfunctional bar in all Avalia thrived with all manner of lowlifes, smelling of the strong brew the establishment provided to anyone who could pay the price. Sometimes the currency was amas and other times it was a good beating for having light pockets. It served as a pitstop for all manner of drunks, thieves, bandits, bounty hunters, and even the most daring adventurers.

The lovely squirrel demi-human bartender Floopa was all smiles as she served her patrons their usual while giving some new blood something special to put them out of sorts. Just like a guild or club, patrons earned their keep. They had to either have a strong stomach or be as vicious as a mother owlbear when others tried to take advantage of their drunkenness. Holding your own and having your wits about you was a requirement, not a suggestion.

For Thraash and Mari, it served as the perfect spot for them to lay low after they caused some serious havoc elsewhere. As the two entered the bar, much of the chattering within the Nest ceased. All eyes were on the pair that entered as if they owned the place.

“The way that chump screamed and hit the table. Solid. Second best kill of the night.”

“He got what he had coming to him! It was so fucking awesome.” Mari replied with a laugh. The two were in the midst of telling each other about the highlights of last night's raid when Thraash noticed he was the only one speaking in the establishment. Mari had taken noticed a bit sooner than him that all eyes had fallen upon them, but she had figured it was because they were immensely attractive individuals.

Looking around the place, the dragonborn walked past the tables and bar stools, his tail whipping about with each step. “Don't worry my fellow degenerates. We come in peace.” He let loose a boisterous cackle as he took a seat on one of the larger stools at the bar.

Before she took a seat at the bar as well, she had spun on her heels and gave the room a pose, hand on her hip. She smiled and winked as if she were a beloved celebrity, gracing them with her presence. “Love my fans!”

Nonchalantly, she climbed up on the stool beside her friend and hit her fists excitedly against the wood of the bar as she called out to the bartender, “Hey fluffy! Maaamaa’s hungry!”

“Heya Mari! And hello to you too Thraash.” Floopa greeted without asking what either of them wanted. She was well-versed in what the duo wanted, which was simple enough. “One 'Normous Yornis Burger with everything with added fried harpy egg, two tankards of mead, and a side of fresh alaberries to-go for the green scales.”

“Solid.”

“And some fowlkin wings and cheesy potatoes for the hungry mama.”

“While I'm preparin' your stuff, you both oughta take a look at the bounty board. Just got updated a couple of hours ago.” She gave the two a knowing look before they looked at one another in unison, grinning.

“Ladies, first.” Thraash teased as he tilted his head toward the board littered with postings.

Mari grinned and hopped off the stool. She hurried over to the board. Immediately, she removed a wanted poster with her and Thraash’s faces and began to crumble it up. Whistling, she craned her neck as she looked it up and down. After maybe fifteen seconds at most, she snatched a paper at random and bounded up to Thraash. She slammed it on the table in front of him and expectantly looked up at him as she gestured to it, “Yeah?”

“Hmmmm…” Thraash studied the bounty poster with narrowed eyes. “We haven't wasted a creature in a while. Why not? There's no price listed but a manticore head'll fetch us a good score of amas.” He traced a clawed finger over the part that references the point of contact for the bounty. “They're here, so no reason to leave it a mystery.” He whipped his head around, spotting a rabbit demihuman leaning on a tabletop with their head buried in her arms. Empty pitchers littered around her. With a low growl from his throat, he got up from his bar stool and marched over with Mari trailing just a step behind him.

“Hey, long-ears!” Despite Thraash's call to her during their approach, the rabbit demi-human didn't budge. Small billows of smoke seeped through his teeth as he towered in front of her table with Mari standing at his side, eyeing the demi-human.

Pounding his fist down on the tabletop a few times in rapid succession, he addressed her again. The pitchers wobbled with one falling over on the table. “Wake the fuck up, long-ears!”

“Easy you’ll break the table.. Again..” Mari advised him lightly but Thraash was already pissed.

“Fuck this. Mari, grab another one! The bitch is piss drunk.” Another guttural growl sounded.

“There’s an easy solution.” With a smirk, she stepped away and then returned with a pitcher of water. Unceremoniously as onlookers stared on, she began to pour it over the girl’s head.